Greens Take Over NLWA Board on Edmonton Incinerator Fight – North London, 2026

Key Points

• Green Party campaigners have welcomed the appointment of a new pro-Green oversight committee at the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) as a “victory” in their decade-long opposition to a planned Edmonton incinerator.
• Hackney Green councillor Jacob Cable has been appointed chair of the NLWA, replacing Labour’s former chair, Waltham Forest councillor Clyde Loakes.
• Enfield Green councillor Madeline Church and Conservative Barnet councillor Peter Zinkin have taken on vice-chair roles, marking a shift from the previous Labour-controlled board.
• The NLWA manages waste and recycling for an estimated two million residents across seven North London boroughs: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.
• The authority is overseeing the construction of a new incinerator at Edmonton EcoPark, which has been delayed for years and is now unlikely to be completed until after 2030 – three years later than originally planned.
• A spokesperson for the Stop the Edmonton Incinerator campaign group described the new board as a “major victory” and said it signals the “beginning of the end” of plans for the incinerator.
• The NLWA has previously argued the Edmonton EcoPark incinerator is the “best long-term environmental solution” for waste generated by millions of people.
• Former NLWA chief Clyde Loakes stressed that “not everything can be recycled” and that councils will still need a solution for waste.
• New chair Jacob Cable said he would lead the NLWA “in an open and participatory way” and work to reduce waste in all its forms.
• The development is likely to intensify scrutiny of the project’s costs, timeline and environmental impact, with potential implications for North London residents, local councils and waste operators.

Edmonton (North London News) July 2, 2026 – Anti-Edmonton incinerator campaigners have hailed the Green Party’s takeover of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) board as a decisive shift in the long-running battle over the controversial Edmonton EcoPark incinerator, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter.

The appointment of Hackney Green councillor Jacob Cable as chair of the NLWA last week marks the end of Labour’s control of the authority, which had been headed by Waltham Forest councillor Clyde Loakes.

Enfield Green councillor Madeline Church and Conservative Barnet councillor Peter Zinkin have assumed the roles of vice-chair, creating a board with a clear Green majority in key leadership positions.

Campaigners against the new incinerator in North London have described the change as a “victory” after nearly a decade of pressure on the NLWA to abandon or substantially rethink the project.

How Does the New Green-Led Board Change Oversight of the Edmonton Incinerator?

As reported by Sebastian Mann of the Local Democracy Reporter Service, a spokesperson for the Stop the Edmonton Incinerator campaign group called the appointments a

“major victory for all of us who have campaigned tirelessly to stop the new Edmonton incinerator for close to a decade”.

The spokesperson said:

“The new Green-led board of the NLWA has already shown it intends to scrutinise the rebuild and its spiralling costs. This gives us confidence that this marks the beginning of the end of the plans for the new outsized, toxic incinerator for a greener, fairer, less polluting way to manage North London’s waste”.

This statement reflects campaigners’ long-standing concerns that the proposed incinerator is unnecessarily large, environmentally damaging and financially risky, particularly given the project’s history of delays and cost increases.

Why Has the Edmonton Incinerator Been Delayed and What Are the Current Timelines?

The NLWA is currently overseeing the construction of a new incinerator in Edmonton, which has been plagued by delays for years.

Due to construction delays and other issues, the facility is likely not to be finished until after 2030 – three years later than when it was originally supposed to come into use.

These delays have fuelled criticism from local residents and campaign groups who argue that the project has become increasingly uncertain in terms of both cost and environmental benefit.

The extended timeline also raises questions about how waste will be managed in North London during the gap between the original planned completion date and the new, later date.

What Position Did the Former NLWA Leadership Take on the Incinerator Project?

The NLWA has previously argued that the Edmonton EcoPark incinerator is the

“best long-term environmental solution for the waste generated by millions of people”.

This position underpinned the authority’s support for the project over many years, despite persistent opposition from local campaign groups and some residents.

Former NLWA chief Clyde Loakes – a Labour councillor in Waltham Forest – said:

“Not everything can be recycled, and councils will still need a solution to deal with waste”.

His comments reflect the longstanding argument from waste authorities that incineration remains necessary to handle residual waste that cannot be recycled or composted, even in a system focused on increasing recycling rates.

How Has Jacob Cable Described His Approach to Leading the NLWA?

Cllr Cable said he would lead the NLWA

“in an open and participatory way and ensure that we work to reduce waste in all its forms”.

This language suggests a shift towards greater transparency and community engagement, as well as a policy emphasis on waste reduction rather than relying primarily on incineration as a disposal method.

Cable’s statement, reported by Sebastian Mann, indicates that the new chair intends to prioritise scrutiny of the incinerator rebuild and its costs, aligning with campaigners’ demands for a more cautious and accountable approach to the project.

Who Does the NLWA Serve and What Are Its Core Responsibilities?

The NLWA manages waste and recycling services for an estimated two million residents across the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.

As a joint authority, it coordinates waste strategy, procurement and infrastructure across these seven boroughs, including the controversial Edmonton EcoPark incinerator project.

The authority’s decisions affect household waste collections, recycling targets, commercial waste arrangements and the development of major waste infrastructure.

Its strategic choices therefore have significant implications for local environments, public costs and the broader waste management system in North London.

What Have Campaigners Said About the Political Shift and Future Scrutiny?

Campaigners against a new incinerator in North London have hailed the appointment of a new Green oversight committee as a “victory”.

The Stop the Edmonton Incinerator group has framed the Green takeover as a turning point that could lead to more rigorous oversight of the project and potentially a rethink of its scale and design.

Their comments suggest they expect the new board to challenge previous assumptions about the necessity and desirability of the incinerator, and to explore alternative, less polluting approaches to waste management in North London.

Background: The Development of the NLWA and the Edmonton Incinerator Project

The North London Waste Authority was established as a joint body to manage waste and recycling services across seven North London boroughs, aiming to coordinate strategy and infrastructure at a regional level rather than leaving each borough to act alone.

Over the years, the NLWA has pursued a range of waste solutions, including increased recycling, composting and investment in waste-to-energy facilities.

The Edmonton EcoPark incinerator project emerged as the authority’s preferred long-term solution for handling residual waste that cannot be recycled.

The scheme has been subject to years of planning, legal challenges and public opposition, with campaign groups arguing that the facility is too large, too polluting and not justified given the potential for further waste reduction and recycling.

The project has also faced repeated construction delays and cost increases, leading to growing scepticism about its viability and financial sustainability.

Prediction: How Could This Green Takeover Affect North London Residents, Councils and Waste Operators?

If the new Green-led NLWA board proceeds to scrutinise the Edmonton incinerator rebuild and its costs more rigorously, North London residents could face a period of heightened uncertainty about the project’s future. This could lead to:

• More robust public engagement: Residents may see increased opportunities to question the project’s design, environmental impact and cost, with the board potentially adopting a more open and participatory approach as promised by Jacob Cable.
• Greater pressure on alternative waste solutions: Councils and waste operators may be encouraged to invest more heavily in waste reduction, recycling and composting, rather than relying on a single large incinerator, in line with the new board’s stated focus on reducing waste in all its forms.
• Potential delays or redesigns: If the board challenges the current plans, the project could face further delays, redesigns, or even partial or full cancellation, which would affect contractual arrangements with waste contractors and the timeline for when new capacity becomes available.

For local councils, the shift could mean needing to adjust their waste strategies to align with a more cautious approach to incineration, while for waste operators it could create a more complex and uncertain environment for long-term investment.